Hogs, Gamecocks at crossroads
South Carolina host for first meeting since ‘11
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas from the Southwest Conference and South Carolina as an independent in 1991 arrived together in the SEC mutually unprepared for their new league.
They grew into the league with some disastrous downs and some spectacular ups often with their annual interdivision game as the barometer for each’s eventual seasonal outcome.
That game lasted from 1991-2012 when SEC newcomer Missouri (East) became Arkansas’ annual crossover rival while Texas A&M (West) became South Carolina’s annual crossover rival with the other East vs. West annual games rotating opponents.
So now Arkansas, 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the SEC, and South Carolina, 3-2 and 1-2, have rotated on a collision course for today’s 3 p.m. SEC Network-televised game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
The Razorbacks and Gamecocks, most recently at a mutual peak for the 2010 and 2011 games that former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks won over former South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks, meet again a little unsure of themselves like their early meetings from 1992-94.
Both have excellent passing quarterbacks, Arkansas senior Austin Allen and South Carolina sophomore Jake Bentley,
whose effectiveness have been compromised by young, reshuffled offensive lines and lack of a running game though the Razorbacks’ infantry has revived the last two games.
Arkansas running backs David Williams, ironically a three- year Gamecock letterman come to Arkansas as a graduate transfer with this season left for football eligibility, Devwah Whaley and Chase Hayden and the line’s run- blocking picked up the pace. The Hogs netted 226 rushing yards in the 50-43 overtime loss to Texas A&M and 264 in last week’s 42-24 triumph over New Mexico State.
The improved running enhanced the play-action passing by Allen, last year’s SEC passing leader.
Allen got sacked six times by Texas A&M but capitalizing on starting lineman Johnny Gibson’s guard/ tackle versatility enabled coach Bret Bielema to platoon run- blocking guard Ty Clary with pass-blocking tackle Paul Ramirez, the senior from Fayetteville played sack free against New Mexico State while compiling his best game of 2017.
However, New Mexico State’s defense isn’t like South Carolina’s.
The Gamecocks, led by linebacker Skai Moore, limiting a Texas A&M team that scored 50 on Arkansas to 24 in last Saturday’s 24-17 road loss to the Aggies.
“They are a swarming defense,” Bielema said. “Anytime you play an SEC opponent the talent on defense goes up. And those guys they are big on the defensive line, fast on the linebackers, cover well in the secondary. They are a really good opponent.”
The Gamecocks have struggled getting opposing offenses off the field and have played more snaps than any SEC defense in 2017, but have been stingy on points. The 28 that North Carolina State tallied in a 35-28 loss to South Carolina marks the most scored on the Gamecocks.
“They don’t give up big plays,” Bielema said. “They just don’t give up those big, big hits. And explosive plays for us is a big part of our system.”
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp wishes aloud for his Gamecocks defensively to be better on third down but it’s their offense he bemoans.
“We’ve been pretty nonexistent in the run game,” Muschamp said. “Jake has been outstanding but we’ve got to be able to develop some things in the run game to take some pressure off.”
Injuries in the offensive line have hurt big time and the Gamecocks lost one of the SEC’s premier receivers, Deebo Samuel, to a broken leg while Arkansas has lost its best returning receiver, Jared Cornelius, to Achilles tendon surgery.
Carolina’s Hayden Hurst likely is the SEC’s best tight end, and Bryan Edwards has arisen at receiver, but opposing defenses have rendered the Gamecocks one-dimensional, which Arkansas capitalized on against New Mexico State serving yielding 344 passing yards but stuffing the Aggies to 11 yards net rushing.
Motivation is huge for both teams. Other than No. 1 Alabama at Tuscaloosa next week for Arkansas and SEC East leader Georgia Nov. 4 at Columbia, neither has a game that oddsmakers would deem a certain loss.
But no sure winner for either. Therefore today’s loser digs a hole impeding its path towards a winning season.